THE BEACH HOUSE

Author: Jane Green ISBN: 9780452295384 6/2009 FICTION Publisher: PLUME

Nan Powell is a free-spirited, sixty-five-year-old widow who's not above skinny-dipping in her neighbors' pools when they're away and who dearly loves her Nantucket home. But when she discovers that the money she thought would last forever is dwindling, she realizes she must make drastic changes to save her beloved house. So Nan takes out an ad: Rooms to rent for the summer in a beautiful old Nantucket home with water views and direct access to the beach. Slowly people start moving in to the house, filling it with noise, laughter, and with tears. As the house comes alive again, Nan finds her family and friends expanding. Her son comes home for the summer, and then an unexpected visitor turns all their lives upside down...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Throw a cast of off-beat, injured, searching, confused characters together at the beach, sit back and watch what happens! The outcome may surprise you, especially if you're reading THE BEACH HOUSE. That's the way I felt while I read this book... almost like I wasn't ever sure just exactly how it would end, or who would end up with who. I liked the thrill of not knowing for sure where a story is going, so I wholeheartedly enjoyed Ms. Green's latest novel.

From the first page, I was hooked. An older age woman who thinks nothing of swimming naked in a neighbors' pool, traipsing through the same neighbor's garden and digging up a strawberry plant to take home with her is irreverent enough to capture my attention. I loved her immediately, and somewhere in my deepest heart I hoped that when I get to be that age, I might be as immune to caring what the world thinks. She smiles at strangers, waves at children, and despite the horror of having "lost" a husband to the sea she loves, finds a way to make the most of every day. Also inherent in this character is the ability to turn a less-than-ideal situation into something positive. How could anyone not like her?

The outcome of this story is a shocker. I never expected the revelation that comes when a car pulls up into the driveway and a "stranger" emerges. A bit of mystery thrown into this was just enough to bring a good story to a very satisfying close. I enjoyed THE BEACH HOUSE, and I believe others will, too.

Kay James